Page 192 - DSOC404_METHODOLOGY_OF_SOCIAL_RESEARCH_ENGLISH

Methodology of Social Research

note easy. those values which tell us the character of the group in a brief form in one digit itself are known
as measures of central tendency. in statistics, these values are known as average. in this unit, we will
describe it only.

27.1 Measures of general tendencies

Whatever statistical data are collected during social researcher, through them any inference cannot
be drawn. Because of this classification or tabulation of those data is essential. After this also, to make
them easy and understandable, help of diagrams and graphs is taken. But study of data through
diagrams and graphs will be accurate or not, depends on the practicality of view of the investigator.
But view, as we know is an uncertain factor. that is why study done and inferences drawn with the
help of it may be unreliable. Other than this, even after classifying and tabulating the data and figures,
it is possible to present them in more summarized manner. if from a series of data we get to know one
such figure or number that may appropriately represent that series, then doing a comparative study
of various series will become really easy for us. it is accepted that though the data that is received
by the investigator, their values are different, still from all the data, one such “character “value may
be found which can appropriately represent all personal numbers. such character or value is only
known as central tendency. Central tendency does not throw light on character or value of separate
data or facts but it represents the entire class or series and in this way it points towards the tendency
or value of entire group. For example, in an example, if any five students have received 7, 9, 5, 6 and
8 marks respectively, apparently it will be said that the capability of the five students is different
from each other. But by looking at these numbers it is known that 7 is the number around which
other numbers are situated. two numbers are smaller than 7 and two are bigger than 7. Hence, it
may be said that 7 is the number that represents this entire group. that is why, though the capability
of students representing this group is different from each other, still collectively their capability will
be considered 7 only because this value is located in the centre of all the values and other values
are inclined towards this central value 7. that is why we will call 7, the central tendency of above-
mentioned marks received.

Notes We can say that values that briefly tell us the character of the group in one number
itself are known as measures of central tendency. in statistics, these values are
known as average.

27.2 statistical average

Meaning of average
As per Ghosh and Chaudhary “average is one such easy expression on which actual result or summary
of complex group or large numbers is centred.”
As per the view of elhance, “it is clear that such value which is used to represent complete series,
that neither has the least value in the series, nor the maximum value, instead it is a value that comes
in between these two limits and possibly situation is that centre where most units of the series get
collected. such numbers are known as the measures of centre tendency or average.”
From the above-mentioned definitions it is clear that average is a number that represents complete
series and manifests the central value which is situated in the centre of the maximum and minimum
value of those series. In this manner, by looking at the average, to find out the central point or value

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